The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-30

lZAa@e e'",: '' :
GUESS WHO
1t was a deep, sweet voice. Shirley had
heard it almost every day for two years.
One is not certain but she had heard it in her
dreams, sometimes, lately. A kingly face,
with starlike eyes, bent low beside hers. 1t
was serene face now, not restless and dark
and bitter. as when we saw it first. 1t was
full of peace, if still sad face at times.
II know. It's the cross, tiresome old
teacher" replied Shirley.
But, her face, aflame with gladness and
welcome, belied her words
Mr.. Morrison leaned his arms across the
back of the rustic seat beside her.
"How gorgeous the sky is" he said.
"See that cloud Ship" said Shirley at is
perfect, with sails all set. 1t glides noise
less,y toward the Islands of the Blest We
live there, all of the nice people, and you,
when you are good natured." She muir
INJURED:
The Islands of the Blest, they say
The Islands of the Blest-
Are peaceful and happy by night and by day,
Far away in the glorious west.
They need not the moon in that land of delight
They need not the pale, pale star;
For the sun he is bright by day and by night,
Mner1 the sous or the blessed are.
Romantic dreamerl" exclaimed Mr.. Nor
rison.
He calls me romantic. 1 shall never get
over it. Take any shape but thati1
"Well, You are romantic"
II am built wrong, somehow. / am drawn
so many different ways. l don't believe
there is a single impulse or affection of
human nature that l don't feel, at one time
and another, within my own breast You
read to me about Spinoza, despised of the
world and prosecuted, living on a crust of
bread, thinking out his sublime philosophy
Then know there is nothing in this life so
grand as devotion to an idea. AT such times
l could march singing into the flames of
martyrdom. 1t seems to me it would be
nothing to wear sackcloth and live on black
bread for life. But again, when l wear my
blue silk dress, or drive with papa, and go
flashing down the road and pass everybody
else with our new horse-I take such delight
in it that I'm ashamed of myself. l am GER
tain the life of self denial is the subimest
life, and yet worship all the pretty things
of the world. | can't understand it at ALL |
have felt too, sometimes as if 1 could commit
a murder. What does it mean, Mr.. Morri-
sonf
"This: you tell me you are drawn so many
different ways. So it should be. Only those
who are thus drawn should ever write. To
the true singer it is given to be all things, to
know all, TO love, to suffer all in his own
soul. Only then can he interpret to the race
the divine music which is everywhere but
which it hears not, neither understands.
Divine indeed is his calling. Such one was
Shakespeare. Such one / believe you will
be- you woman
"And yet,r- said Shirley.
"You mem if, after ALL it was not to be.
But it viii be, think. There may be storm
and trouble that we don't know of in store
for you. There may be hindrances that will
prevent for awhile, though cannot see how.
Yet, if it should be so, do not give up
Patience will wear out everything in time.
Let me give you bit of philosophy have
upheld myself with it when everything else
failed. l have learned it at last, made it a
part of my life. Think of it in the time to
come, when-when l am gone. 1t is this:
Reconcile yourself to the inevitable
But the girl quite passed by the bit of
philosophy, though she heard it.
"Are you going away, Mr.. Morrisonz7 she
asked.
"Yes, in ten minutes. Jim Sweet viii be
waiting for me at the gate, to take me to the
STAGE
She was silent little Then she counted
on her fingers.
"You will not be back till the vacation is
over. That will be six-eight-te weeks. F"
SHIRLEY" said the master, in a low, thrill
ing tone, SHIRLEY, am not coming back"
The blood forsook her face and fled back
and settled around her heart. The master
looked away When ho opened his lips,
presently, the words cane broken ard with
difficulty, at first, rs though by powerful
self command Ee compete himself to speak.
He said:
Il only decided TO 80 TO-DAY, suddenly.
must go tonight I must not wait till to-
morrow, even, for fear the temptation to re-
main here voald be stronger than my will
/ dare no. tell what you have taught me-
me, your teacher had lost all desire for
life when 1 came here. You gave me back
hope. All the labor of mems brains was to
me weariness and trife. You gave me
back iho desire to work, to raise myself above
the common herd b. worthy action
Il was a soul i'll torment | met you, my
poet pupil, and you brought me peace. You
gave me back courage and faith in the right
/ go to join the workers. Perhaps you will
hear of me, child. All that my life might
have been before it shall be now, and more.
You win make it so. How can thank you,
o, my angel. my blessed iuspirerr
@But-you-you go away she gaspsd
Il dare not stay he said. Il go because
1t is best-bestn
@But you viii write-write to papas'
3When can-if ever can, win write to
you; will come back to you. would like
| you to remember that always
Both faces were pale. This was too pain
f,,I
| Shirley tried to smile, but it was q weak
| effort She had not learned then the iron
discipline that gave her strength to smile
when her heart was breaking, TO laugh when
| her souls eyes overiowed with weeping.
| That came later. She covered her face with
| her hands
| But the master hal learned the lesson al
ready A flash of infinite pain, of infinite
| lore and longing, fitted across his face. It
was gone in moment The face which was
| bent down so close TO Shirleyts was calm, the
| eyes were steady, and bright, and hopeful
| He drew her hands away from her face, and
| held them caressingly in both his own for
4 one moment He made a step to go, then
paused and turned back. and said lightly:
aDo you know Shirley, now that 1 am
going away, and may never see you again,
| I've half mind to kiss your
He lowered his face again, and kissed her
| ON the lips Then he was gone, in moment
At the turning OF the path be glanced back
at her He stood an instant aad bowed with
his hat Of. She never forgot his counte-
nance as she saw it then. the serene, .offy
brow, the face so full Of inspiration In all
her life she never met another face so full of
power and light and hope.
And be was gone!
Wen, Shirley did not faint or weep. Il
was never her way to do either. She covered
her face with her hands, and nt as IL turned
to stone. The shadows heightened in the
west til they shrousied the earth, but she sat
there still
How could Shirley know what was pass
ing meantime, five miles aways It seemed to
her in dumb. blind way, that for her some
how existence had beeu torn out from its
fnstsningz BY The roos vhen the teacher lef.
her. How could she, haplen child, know
that at fhat very moment her future, which
looked = aure 49, indeed being torn 1oced
atum 81 faateninsr